Will quit if observation against me in HC signed verdict: Thomas Chandy

Will quit if observation against me in HC signed verdict: Thomas Chandy

A screenshot from one of the trolls by ICU

Melinda Barton
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15 November, 2017, 04:22

L'affaire Thomas Chandy that reared its ugly head in August and continues to create ripples, about the minister's Lake Palace Resort encroaching upon the Punnamada lake in Alappuzha, breached yet another boiling point on Tuesday. The NCP executive meet in Kochi on Tuesday discussed the matter and chose to inform the national leadership about its decision on it.

After a spate of political volleys that forced the administration to crack down on the state transport minister, it was the turn of the Kerala High Court to come down like a tonne of bricks on the errant minister. Asked if Mr Chandy would quit if the chief minister demands his resignation, Master sought to downplay it, saying "obviously a minister will have to do so if the chief minister makes such a demand".

A division bench of the high court, comprising justices P N Raveendran and Devan Ramachandran held that a minister can not file a petition against his own government, which had ordered the district collector to look into the matter and submit a report.

A division bench of judges P N Ravindran and Devan Ramachandran rejected Chandy's writ petition in this connection and observed that the minister's move was in conflict with the collective responsibility entrusted with the Cabinet.

Chief Minister Vijayan told the media that the decision of Chandy's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is awaited. The CPI, the second largest party in the ruling coalition, persisted with a different tone - "When ministers lead parties, instead of parties leading their ministers, we have such unfortunate situations", state secretary Kanam Rajendran said.

NCP state acting president T.P. Peethamabaran said a decision on Chandy would be taken by the NCP parliamentary board. He cited a Supreme Court observation that court's oral observations need not be considered as final verdict.

A group of Youth Congress workers raised slogans and waved black flags at Tankha as he stepped out of a posh hotel here to proceed to the High Court, police said. The leaders of the party maintained high probity in public life.